Word Document Properties

Chapter 4: Storing and Modifying Information
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Working in binary is quite difficult because even small numbers require many
digits. Using either octal (base 8) or hexadecimal (base 16) numbers is easier,
so computers group the output of their switches to work in these two bases,
even though the computer itself still sees just binary numbers. Both octal
(also abbreviated as 
oct
) and hexadecimal (also called 
hex
) convert directly
to base 2. The binary bit positions convert easily to these other two bases, so
VBA doesn’t even support binary numbers directly.
Generally, the need to work with other bases is obvious. The VBA documenta-
tion might provide values in hex for you to use in your program. You might have
to convert a number from one base to another because a program supports only
a specific base. Your program might also rely on 
flags,
which are essentially on
or off indicators based on the value of a specific bit within a number.
Most people don’t work well with other bases of numbers. We just don’t
use them often enough. To keep yourself from going crazy, you can use
the calculator that comes with Windows. Switch to scientific mode by using
the View
➪
Scientific command. Figure 4-4 shows what the Calculator program
looks like. To convert a number by using this program, click the initial base of
the number (Hex, Dec, Oct, or Bin), type any number that you need to convert
to another base into the input area, and then click the base that you want to
see as output. The result is shown in the input area where you typed the orig-
inal number.
Figure 4-4:
The
Calculator
provides 
a fast and
easy method
for
converting
between
numeric
bases.
Figure 4-3:
Seeing 
the actual
content of
the numeric
types
demon-
strates 
their range.
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